February 12, 2007
Hi Everyone,
It’s getting exciting here at the Wasilla Headquarters as the start of Iditarod 35 gets closer and closer. They moved a trailer into the parking lot Friday so that the vet techs can begin doing the pre-race EKG’s and blood work. That is a sure sign that the race is almost upon us. I can hardly wait for the teams to start coming in for their tests. I get to talk to a lot of my old friends and meet some new racers. I will be sure to get some comments I can pass on to everyone and some pictures too.
There have been a lot of mid-distance races over the past few weeks. The mushers have been a mixture of rookies and veterans in these races. The rookies have to run a certain amount of mid-distance races before they are allowed to participate in the Iditarod. These shorter races are a chance for experienced race officials to see if the mushers are ready for the long distance races.
The veteran mushers often share their valuable experience with the rookies during these shorter races. The dogs love the races because they like to get out and run and each race is a new trail for them. It is always fun to go some place new.
These races also give the dogs a chance to get their musher trained. No dog wants to be on a long distance race with an untrained musher. Just like your dog trains you to let him or her out when he or she goes to the door or when food or water is needed, the sled dogs have to teach their musher all kinds of trail skills. The dogs make it fun for the musher and he/she doesn’t even realize that he/she is being trained.
There is plenty of snow on the ground right now and I have been making “snowdog angels” on the thick sheet of snow on the front lawn. I also play “Catch the Snowball” with my human friends here at the Wasilla year-around headquarters.
My friend, Lois, lost her house to a fire last week and so we Iditarod folks and dogs have been helping her get settled. She and her two K-9 fur-kids got out of the house and that is the important thing. She came back to work on Wednesday and I was really glad to see her. I gave her some big husky kisses and a hug or two. I know that made her feel lots better. She will be moving into a small apartment in about a week and there is no room for furjamma parties. I told her she will have to find a little bit bigger place by summer so I can come visit with Dozer and Rosie.
I am using a new web format and you will no longer have to deal with PDF files. This will make it quicker and easier for you to open and read my Paw Prints. However, in this format, the pictures will all be at the bottom of the report. I will put captions with the pictures so you will know what they are about.
Remember everyone, I love the email I get from you and look forward to there be a great many messages in my email box each day.
I also want to remind everyone that they should check out the Iditarod Insider website. There will be a lot of features on that site that are not available on our regular website. Membership is $19.95 for a whole year.
I am going to get this report on the web site with some pictures if can figure out how to make them work on the new system. I’m still learning the new format. The pictures will be random shots from mid-distance races.
Lots of Tail Wags,
Zuma
Iditarod’s K-9 Reporter
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